Abstract
ObjectiveWe examined whether change in distance to or number of sports facilities is related to change in metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours/week. Method25,834 Finnish Public Sector study cohort participants reported their weekly physical activity in 2000 and 2008. Distances from each participant's home to the nearest facility and number of facilities within 500m from home were calculated from geographic coordinates. We assessed changes in weekly MET hours of physical activity between the baseline and the follow-up in relation to change in distance to the nearest facility (remained close, decreased, remained distant, increased) and number of facilities <500m from home (remained high, increased, remained low, decreased). ResultsThe average decrease in MET hours was greater for those whose distance to a sports facility increased (−1.4 (95% CI −3.8–−0.96)) (vs. remained close). The same was observed for those for whom the number of facilities near home decreased (−2.35 (95% CI −4.84–0.14)) (vs. remained high). Increase in availability was not related to increase in MET hours. ConclusionsAn increase in distance to and decrease in number of sports facilities were associated with a decrease in physical activity suggesting that changes in availability of facilities may affect physical activity levels.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
